No. 2 Bo Nickal (Penn State) dec. No. 1 Gabe Dean (Cornell), 4-3
Bo Nickal (Penn State) capped off the 2016 NCAAs by edging two-time NCAA champion Gabe Dean (Cornell) 4-3, giving the Nittany Lions five consecutive NCAA champions. Dean struck first, scoring a takedown midway through the first period, but Nickal battled back, getting an escape and takedown to take a 3-2 lead into the second period. Nickal escaped in the second period to extend his lead to 4-2. A quick escape by Dean in the third period made the score 4-3 in favor of Nickal. Dean nearly scored a takedown on the edge of the mat, but they went out of bounds. Nickal held on for the victory.

174

No. 5 Mark Hall (Penn State) dec. No. 3 Bo Jordan (Ohio State), 5-2
True freshman Mark Hall (Penn State), the nation's No. 1 recruit in 2016, gave Penn State its fourth consecutive NCAA champion. After a scoreless first period, Hall chose down in the second period and escaped in the first 10 seconds to take a 1-0 lead. The Penn State true freshman scored a takedown with just over 40 seconds left in the second period to go up 3-0. Jordan escaped, and the second period ended 3-1 in favor of Hall. Jordan started the third period in the down position and escaped to make the score 3-2. Jordan kept the pressure on, and Hall was warned for stalling. The two continued to battle, and with five seconds left Hall shot a double leg and put the match away with a takedown.

165

No. 3 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State) pinned No. 1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois), 5:26
Freshman Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State) pinned Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) in the finals, stunning the two-time NCAA champion. The two wrestlers traded takedowns and escapes in the first period, and the first period ended with the score 3-3. Martinez chose down to start the second period and escaped to take a 4-3 lead. Joseph came back with a takedown to take a 5-4 lead. Martinez escaped and the second period ended tied 5-5. Joseph, with 1:05 riding time, chose down to start the second period and escaped within five seconds to grab a 6-5 lead and preserve riding time. A short time later the two locked up and Joseph used double overs to throw Martinez to his back and get the pin.

157

No. 1 Jason Nolf (Penn State) maj. dec. No. 3 Joey Lavallee (Missouri), 14-6
Top-seeded Jason Nolf (Penn State) came through to win his first NCAA title after falling short in the NCAA finals last season. Retherford picked up a 14-6 major decision over No. 3 Joey Lavallee (Missouri) in the finals. Lavallee kept the score close early in the match, and trailed just 2-1 after the opening period. Nolf extended his lead to 6-1 after two periods, and then turned it up in the third periods, scoring four takedowns to get the major decision.

149

No. 1 Zain Retherford (Penn State) tech. fall No. 3 Lavion Mayes (Missouri), 18-2
Zain Retherford (Penn State) completed an undefeated season, winning his second straight NCAA title with an 18-2 technical fall over No. 3 Lavion Mayes (Missouri). The Missouri Tiger started fast, scoring a takedown in the first 30 seconds to take a 2-0 lead. But it was all the points he would score. Retherford dominated the rest of the way. After an escape and takedown, he took a 3-2 lead into the second period. He added a takedown in the second period and extended his lead to 6-2 after two periods. Mayes, trailing by four, chose the down position in the third period … and paid for it. Retherford scores three sets for four-point nearfalls to close out the technical fall with less than 30 seconds remaining in the match.

141

No. 1 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) dec. No. 6 George DiCamillo (Virginia), 6-3
Dean Heil (Oklahoma State) repeated as NCAA champion, defeating No. 6 George DiCamillo (Virginia) 6-3 in the championship match. Heil scored a first-period takedown and led 2-1 after one. Heil escaped in the second period to grab a 3-1 lead. DiCamillo kept the pressure on in the second period and nearly scored a takedown on the edge of the mat with a throw -- and again at the close of the period -- but the period would end 3-1 in favor of Heil. DiCamillo escaped in the first 30 seconds of the final period to cut the deficit to 3-2. With 40 seconds on the clock, Heil scored a takedown to extend his lead. He would add an additional point for riding time.

133

No. 4 Cory Clark (Iowa) dec. No. 2 Seth Gross (South Dakota State), 4-3
Cory Clark (Iowa) claimed the NCAA title after finishing runner-up in each of the two previous seasons. The Hawkeye senior edged No. 2 Seth Gross (South Dakota State) 4-3 in the championship match. Gross jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a first-period takedown. After an escape by Clark, Gross led 2-1 after the first period. Clark chose the down position in the second period and escaped with just over a minute remaining in the period to tie the match at 2-2 after two periods. Gross started the third period in the down position, and re-took the lead, 3-2, after an escape. With 1:20 left in the match, Gross shot a single leg and converted it for a takedown to take a 4-3 lead. He then erased Gross' riding time and took the one-point victory.

125

No. 4 Darian Cruz (Lehigh) dec. No. 6 Ethan Lizak (Minnesota), 6-3
A day after knocking off top-seeded Thomas Gilman (Iowa), No. 4 Darian Cruz (Lehigh) came through to win the NCAA title with a 6-3 victory over No. 6 Ethan Lizak (Minnesota), avenging a loss from the Southern Scuffle. Cruz scored a first-period takedown and led 2-1 after the first period. Lizak chose the down position in the second period and escaped in 30 seconds to knot the score at 2-2. With the match tied 2-2 after two periods, Cruz chose to start the period in neutral. With 30 seconds left, Cruz scored the go-ahead takedown. The call was challenged by Minnesota and upheld. Lizak cut the deficit to 4-3 after an escape, but Cruz added a takedown at the buzzer to win by three.

285

No. 1 Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) dec. No. 2 Connor Medbery (Wisconsin), 6-3
Olympic champion Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) repeated as NCAA champion with a 6-3 win over Connor Medbery (Wisconsin) in a rematch from the Big Ten finals. Snyder scored a takedown midway through the first period, lifting Medbery ande finishing with a double leg. Medbery escaped, and a short time later Snyder earned a point off a fleeing the mat call. Snyder extended his lead to 5-1 in the second period. Medbery, trailing by four, chose the top position in the final period. Snyder escaped 15 seconds into the period to make it 6-1. Medbery would add a late takedown, but it too little too late.

197

No. 1 J'den Cox (Missouri) dec. No. 2 Brett Pfarr (Minnesota), 8-2
Olympic bronze medalist J'den Cox (Missouri) opened the NCAA finals with an 8-2 victory over No. 2 Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) to capture his third NCAA title. Cox scored three takedowns -- one in each of the three periods, with the final takedown coming at the buzzer. He added a point for riding time to win by six. It was Cox's second win over Pfarr this season. The first one came in the finals of the Southern Scuffle.

Which will be even historically the worst?
1. Forgetting about the Goatherds pass to the Hot Gates
2. Wearing Red and matching out in the open in straight lines in the Revolutionary War
3. Choosing bottom against Zain Retherford